Bedframe support leg



De 4, 1956 M. E. ROCHE ET AL 2,772,424

BEDFRAME SUPPORT LEG Filed Oct. 14, 1954 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 IN V EN TORSii n 25 1 LESLIE K. JAcKsoNa l4 4' 24 22 BY MELV\N E. ROCHE HQ 6ATTORNEYS.

Dec. 4, 1956 ROCHE ET AL 2,772,424

BEIDFRAME SUPPORT LEG Filed Oct. 14. 1954 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 l I IHINVENTORS LESLIE K. JACKSON 6 BY MELVIN E. ROCHE ATTO RNE Y5 UnitedStates Patent BEDFRAME SUPPORT LEG Melvin E. Roche, Strongsville, andLeslie K. Jackson,

Lakewood, Ohio, assignors to The Harvard Manufactgfiing Company,Cleveland, Ohio, a corporation of Application October 14, 1954, SerialNo. 462,264 6 Claims. (Cl. -176) This invention relates to bedframes,and more particularly to support legs and bedframe construction adaptedfor partial disassembly for transport, which frames are normally madefrom metal rails of right angle shape in cross section.

A principal object of this invention is to provide an improved andsimplified combined brace and supporting leg structure in the vicinityof the intersection of the longitudinal and transverse frame elements.

Another object is to provide an integral brace and leg structureadapted, in combination with a transverse frame element, for co-activeinterlocking perpendicular relationship with a longitudinal frameelement at either end of the transverse element to eliminate the needfor separate right and left units.

Still another object of the invention is to provide an improved braceand leg structure adapted, in combination with the transverse frameelement, to support the frame at a point recessed inwardly from thelongitudinal frame element.

A further object of our invention is to provide bedframe having aninexpensive but sturdy pivotal connection between the longitudinal andtransverse frame elements so that these elements may be shipped compactly partially unassembled in longitudinal alignment and still may bereadily assembled in locked operative right angle relationship withminimum effort by inexperienced users.

Another object is to provide in an integrally formed brace and legconstruction a vertically extending reinforcing rib or channelconformation.

To the accomplishment of the foregoing and related ends, said inventionthen comprises the features hereinafter fully described and particularlypointed out in the claims, the following description and the annexeddrawings, setting forth in detail certain illustrative embodiments ofthe inventions, these being indicative, however, of but a few of thevarious ways in which the principle of the invention may be employed.

In said annexed drawings:

Fig. l is a perspective view of our invention in assembled bedframeform;

Fig. 2 is a perspective view of the frame elements with the transversemembers in the process of being opened;

Fig. 3 is a perspective view of bedframe;

Fig. 4 illustrates in plan view a modification in form of the top flangeof the support leg shown in Figs. 7 and 8;

Fig. 5 is a plan view of a modification wherein a rivet-like element isused as a stop and lock;

Fig. 6 shows in vertical cross section the alternative constructionshown in Fig. 5;

Fig. 7 is a fragmentary top plan view of a corner portion of a bedframe,including a longitudinal rail and a transverse rail operativelyassociated with each other a corner of an assembled "ice and a preferredform of the top flange of the integral brace and leg structure;

Fig. 8 is a view similar to Fig. 7 with the transverse rail swung toinoperative position aligned with the longitudinal rail;

Fig. 9 is a vertical section taken on the line 9-9 of Fig. 10; and

Fig. 10 is a fragmentary side elevation of a corner of the bedframe asshown in Fig. 8 and including a caster.

A principal problem in the structural design of bedframes sometimesreferred to as the Hollywood type, i. e., box spring support framesnormally used without a footboard and frequently used without aheadboard, is the provision of sufficient rigidity in the frame andstrength in the leg structure to accept the severe end, oblique andtwisting forces to which bedframes are subjected in use. Transportationcosts necessitate that frames be as light as possible consistent withstrength requirements and that they be capable of being shipped inknockdown condition with the ultimate user having to complete theassembly. In addition to these requirements, experience has shown thatit is highly desirable from a users safety and convenience standpoint torecess the support legs inwardly of the sides and ends of the frame toreduce foot stubbing and tripping accidents when the bed is being made.Location of the support legs in wardly of the frame periphery, togetherwith the use of casters, requires exceptional strength in the framesupporting structure and heretofore it has been ditficult to achievethis economically with light gauge angle iron members because of theirinability to withstand deformation in the absence of cumbersome bracingarrange ments.

To overcome the structural difficulties referred to above and thedisadvantages of the prior art in bedframes of this type, we haveinvented a compact, simple and reliable, integral brace and supportstructure involving a novel co-operative interaction of longitudinal.transverse and leg elements.

Referring now more particularly to the drawings, the assembled frame 1,shown in Fig. 1, comprises a pair of longitudinal right angle side rails3 and transverse or cross rails 4. It will be noted that in the frameshown the transverse elements 4 comprise a pair of rails pivotallyattached to the respective longitudinal elements and being adapted, asshown in Fig. 2, to be swung into longitudinal alignment with therespective side rails 3. In the assembled form they are secured togetherby suitable tension clamp or other means to provide a unitary, buttransversely adjustable, structure. At one end of the longitudinal railsis shown an end plate 5 which may be suitably secured thereto as bywelding and which end plate is adapted for securing a headboard orsimilar member (not shown) to the bedframe.

As shown in the drawings, preferably each of the rail elements 3 and 4have horizontally and vertically directed legs thereon. The verticallyextending legs or runners of the longitudinal elements 3 are adaptedsnugly to contain the edge of a box spring or the like and thehorizontal legs normally will be the load carrying surfaces of thebedframe. The transverse rails 4 are inverted, in comparison to thelongitudinal rails, and the horizontal leg is uppermost so that it mayact as a load carrying surface and the depending vertical leg is towardthe ends of the frame. The transverse member is secured to thelongitudinal member by means of a rivet or similar element 6, as shownin Figs. 5 and 8, with the transverse elemerit being secured beneath thehorizontal leg of the longitudinal element and spaced therefrom as by awasher 14, as more particularly shown in Fig. 9.

To the outer surface of the depending leg of the transverse member 4 issecured a support leg generally identified at 2. This leg elementcomprises a horizontally extending shoulder or flange 8, a preferredform of which is shown in Figs. 8 and 10, a centrally disposed channelor rib formation 11 and a web section having lateral Wings 12, whichwings are at right angles to the shouldeer or flange 8. The reinforcingchannel portion 11 of the leg is necked as indicated in Fig. so that thesupport leg has a generally tubular section 15 at the lower end thereofformed by folding portions 17 inwardly so as to provide a caster spindlereceiving socket for a caster 29 or a glide socket, as is shown at 16.

The support leg is secured to a depending leg of the transverse elementby rivets 13 or other suitable means as is shown in Fig. 10. It shouldbe pointed out that the securing of the support leg to the leg of thetransverse member provides, as may be observed in igs. 3 and 7, a sturdyT-like section. The formation of the T section at the contacting end ofthe transverse memher with the longitudinal member provides a reactiveforce against torsional effects on the transverse member resulting fromthe offset loading characteristics of tracking casters. The amount ofstrength in the combination of the wing portion of the leg with thedependent leg of the transverse member is further increased by thepresence of the channel formation intermediate the wings which extendsthroughout the leg into the top flange, as may be seen in Figs. 7 and 8.This reinforcing chan ncl 11 is of generally arcuate shape in the formshown although it may take other conformations.

in the preferred form of the invention as illustrated in Figs. 7 and 8,the top flange 8 of the support leg has inwardly tapered end portions sothat longitudinal outwardly directed locking shoulders 9 and 10 areprovided on longitudinally spaced portions of the top of the flange.

In order to provide an abutment or stop for movement of the transverserail 4, which, as has been pointed out, is pivotally secured to thelongitudinal rail 3 by means of the rivet 6, the longitudinal railpreferably has downwardly extending an integral lance or lug 7 strucktherefrom and extending longitudinally of the longitudinal rail in adirection toward the rivet 6 from a point spaced therefromlongitudinally along the side rail. It will be appreciated that with anappropriate reversal of functional design, pivotal movement of thetransverse support asscmbly could occur through the flange of the legrather than through the transverse frame member.

in Figs. 7 through It] the operation of the shoulder and lockrelationship of the invention will be apparent as the transverse railhaving the leg secured thereto is moved from the position shown in Fig.8 to that of Fig. 7 with the shoulder 9 being brought into engagingcontact with a side portion of the lance 7 to limit pivotal movement ofthe transverse rail and support leg assembly away from the superimposedposition of the rails shown in Fig. 7. As previously mentioned, thecross rails or cross rail sections 4 are suitably secured together ormay. as an alternative, extend across between a pair of longitudinalrails as a unit in order to form a suitable l' crlframe assembly.

in the preferred form, as shown in Figs. 7-10, it will he noted that theheight of the top flange of the support leg is somewhzt less than theheight of the horizontal leg of the transverse member so that as theflange is swung into position, as shown in Fig. 7, a portion of theflange is swung under the horizontal leg of the longitudiuul member andbrought into contact therewith through the engagement with the lance 7.An alternate shape for the top flange 8 is illustrated in Fig. 4 wherethe t-utcr surface of the flange is tapered outwardly from a centralpoint with the taper coming into contact with the lance 7 to limitfurther pivotal movement of the transver e member.

In the modification shown in Figs. 5 and 6. other abutment means, such,for example, as a rivet shank, may be provided on the longitudinal railfor stopping motion of the cross rail assembly, if desired. A rivet 22having a flange portion 23 is provided in the longitudinal rail as shownin Fig. 6.

It will be noted that the upper surface 27 of the flange 8 is broughtinto contact with the lower surface 25 of the horizontal leg of thelongitudinal rail and the upper surface 24 of the depending rivetportion 23 is in contact with the under surface of the flange 8, therebysupporting securely the flange between the under surface of thehorizontal leg of the longitudinal member and the rivet portion 23. inthe plan view of Fig. 5 the contact of the shoulder 9 with the rivetportion 22 in abutting relationship may be seen.

An additional feature to be mentioned is that usually the bedframe willbe painted or otherwise given a protective coating during itsmanufacture and after assembly of the bcdframe components. In Figs. 6and 9, the washer or spacing element 14 is positioned intermediate theadjacent surfaces of the longitudinal and cross rails so that the entryof paint or other preservatives between such adjacent surfaces isfacilitated.

It will be seen that the construction of the invention provides aparticularly sturdy arrangement for limiting pivotal movement of thetransverse rail assembly on the side rail, since the lance 7 is spaced asubstantial distance from the rivet 6. Inasmuch as the lance 7 or therivet arrangement 22 is adapted to engage snugly with the undersurfaceof the support leg and the flange 8 thereof, these combined support andabutment members will hold the cross rail assembly against any twistingmovement by forces applied to the bedframe. It should also be pointedout that the rivets 13 securing the support leg to the cross rail arerelatively widely spaced to further aid in providing a sturdy bracedconnection between the Support leg and the cross rail. In addition, theprovision of the support leg as shown serves to locate the leg andcaster assembly laterally inwardly of the periphery of the assembledbedframe, thus avoiding interference with other furniture that may bedisposed adjacent the bedframe and with the feed of persons wall;- ingaround the frame.

We wish also to emphasize that the support leg 2 shown in the drawingsis adapted to be used on either side of the bedframe inasmuch as it isof a similar conformation about a center line therethrough. Thus. whenthe support leg is used at an opposite end of the cross rail, as thatshown in Fig. 7, the similar shoulder 10 will serve to abut against thelance 7 in the opposite side rail to limit pivotal movement of the crossrail assembly. Hence, the support leg need be made in only one design orconformation, thus facilitating the manufacture of the frame assembly byeliminating the necessity of using a distinctly shaped right andleft-hand unit.

In view of the foregoing, it is submitted that the objects of theinvention have been achieved and that a novel frame assembly and supportmeans have been provided having a sturdy reinforced construction lendingrigidity to the frame and having an attractive, simple structure andappearance.

Since the invention may be embodied in other specific forms withoutdeparting from the spirit or essential characteristics thereof, thepresent embodiments are to be considered as illustrative and notrestrictive, the scope of the invention being indicated by the appendedclaims rather than by the foregoing description, and all changes whichcome within the meaning and range of equivalency of the claims areintended to be embraced therein.

We claim:

1. In a bedframe of contractible type, a longitudinal frame memberhaving a horizontal support surface, a transverse frame member pivotallysecured to the longi tudinal member near an end thereof having in atleast the end portions thereof a right angle structure With ahorizontally depending flange and a vertically depending flange facinglongitudinally outwardly from said frame; an integral brace and legmember having vertical portions abutted against and rigidly secured tosaid vertically depending flange of the transverse frame member near anend thereof, having a horizontal top flange parallel to and facingoppositely to the horizontal flange of said transverse frame member, thetransverse edge of said leg flange having a greater depth in the centerthan at the end and said leg member having substantially throughout itsentire length a vertically extending reinforcing channel portion betweensaid vertical portions with the lower part of said channel portion beingformed into a socket; said longitudinal frame member having an abutmentelement spaced longitudinally outward of said pivot and depending fromthe horizontal surface thereof, said abutment element being adapted toengage an outer transverse edge of said top flange of the leg member tolimit pivotal movement thereof.

2. The invention as set forth in claim 1, wherein there is provided onthe abutment element at the lower end thereof a retaining surfaceadapted to contact the under surface of said top flange of the legsupport member whereby the said top flange is engaged by said abutmentelement both vertically and horizontally.

3. The invention as set forth in claim 1, wherein the abutment elementon the longitudinal frame member is defined as being a lance protrudingdownwardly from the said longitudinal frame member and extendinglongitudinally thereof toward said pivot thereon and being spacedtherefrom.

4. The invention as set forth in claim 1, in which the abutment elementis defined as being in the form of a. rivet shank. said shank having anannular horizontally extending fie age at the lower portion thereof.

5. The invention as set forth in claim 1, wherein the transverse edge ofthe leg flange is further defined as having thereon a pair of oppositelydisposed shoulder portions, either of which is adapted to abut againstthe abutment element depending from the appropriate longitudinal framemember.

6. in a bedframe of contractible type having a longitudinal frame memberhaving a horizontal support surface and a transverse frame memberpivotally secured to the longitudinal member near an end thereof whereinthe transverse frame member is of right angle cross section with ahorizontal upper flange and a vertically depending flange facingoutwardly from said frame, a support leg comprising a top flange havinga longitudinally outwardly directed locking shoulder provided thereonadjacent each end thereof, a web section connected to and extendingdownwardly from said top flange, and a vertically extending reinforcingchannel portion in said web section extending up into said top flange toprovide a reinforced support engaging means for the leg.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS1,223,285 Martin Apr. 17, 1917 2,607,051 Jackson Aug. 19, 1952 2,683,266Baldwin July 13, 1954

